The Golden Asse eBook

by the cruell Beare: and verely I would have told
it if I might have spoken, but (which I could onely
do) I greatly rejoiced at his death, although it came
too late. Then they gathered together the peeces
of his body and buried them. By and by they laid
the fault to my new Master, that tooke me up by the
way, and (bringing him home fast bound to their houses)
purposed on the next morrow to accuse him of murther,
and to lead him before the Justices to have judgement
of death.

THE THIRTY-FIRST CHAPTER

How Apuleius was cruelly beaten by the Mother of the
boy that was slaine.

In the meane season, while the Parents of the boy
did lament and weepe for the death of their sonne,
the shepheard (according to his promise) came with
his instruments and tooles to geld me. Then one
of them said, Tush we little esteeme the mischiefe
he did yesterday, but now we are contented that to
morrow his stones shall not onely be cut off, but also
his head. So was it brought to passe, that my
death was delayed till the next morrow, but what thanks
did I give to that good boy, who (being so slaine)
was the cause of my pardon for one short day.
Howbeit I had no time then to rest my selfe, for the
Mother of the boy, weeping and lamenting for his death,
attired in mourning vesture, tare her haire and beat
her breast, and came presently into the stable, saying,
Is it reason that this carelesse beast should do nothing
all day but hold his head in the manger, filling and
belling his guts with meat without compassion of my
great miserie, or remembrance of the pittiful death
of his slaine Master: and contemning my age and
infirmity, thinketh that I am unable to revenge his
mischiefs, moreover he would perswade me, that he
were not culpable. Indeed, it is a convenient
thing to looke and plead for safety, when as the conscience
doeth confesse the offence, as theeves and malefactors
accustome to do. But O good Lord, thou cursed
beast, if thou couldest utter the contents of thine
owne mind, whom (though it were the veriest foole
in all the world) mightest thou perswade that this
murther was voide or without thy fault, when as it
lay in thy power, either to keepe off the theeves with
thy heeles, or else to bite and teare them with thy
teeth? Couldest not thou (that so often in his
life time diddest spurne and kicke him) defend him
now at the point of death by the like meane?
Yet at least, thou shouldest have taken him upon thy
backe, and so brought him from the cruell hands of
the theeves: where contrary thou runnest away
alone, forsaking thy good Master, thy pastor and conductor.
Knowest thou not, that such as denie their wholsome
help and aid to them which lie in danger of death,
ought to be punished, because they have offended against
good manners, and the law naturall? But I promise
thee, thou shalt not long rejoyce at my harmes, thou
shalt feele the smart of thy homicide and offence,
I will see what I can doe. And therewithall she